In 1993, the need for affordable housing was so great that the Atlanta City Council created a Housing Commission to recommend solutions; the commission evaporated. Now, a pending proposal would revive the commission and charge it with meeting the challenges of this era.
Tag: Affordable housing
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Atlanta’s housing policies must be well-funded, comprehensive, inclusive
By Guest Columnist DAN IMMERGLUCK, a professor in the Urban Studies Institute at Georgia State University
In the book, City on the Verge, author Mark Pendergrast points out some of the challenges that the Atlanta BeltLine and the rest of Atlanta face in terms of housing affordability. He argues, for example, that the City should adopt mandatory inclusionary zoning, with a sliding scale to address the truly impoverished, as soon as possible in order to address the problem of declining affordability.
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The Power of “We” Part 5
The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is promoting solutions to Atlanta’s affordable housing needs via a series of articles from our public, private, philanthropic, nonprofit, and community partners who – through “The Power of We” – can help define a coordinated set of policies, programs, and resources that build and preserve affordable living opportunities for all. Recently, Enterprise Community Partners discussed the […]
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Mayoral candidates promise to find affordable housing cash
In a packed forum, top mayoral candidates said their ideas for raising money for affordable housing polices range from parking taxes to bonds, to maybe even casinos.
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Atlanta’s elections: Affordable housing is top topic, candidates must know the issue
By Guest Columnist HATTIE DORSEY, civic advocate, founder and retired president of the Atlanta Neighborhood Development Partnership
I cannot remember who the person was who termed this period of time as the “silly season,” when politicians appear on the scene seeking your vote and raising campaign funds.
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BeltLine playing catch up on affordability
Atlanta BeltLine, Inc. President and CEO Paul Morris on Wednesday gave his organization a “qualified” C and D grade on affordable housing so far.
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New housing board chair talks affordability in Atlanta
The new chair of the board that oversees Atlanta’s housing authority says wants to work with more partners in development, business and education to improve the city’s affordable housing stock.
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Proposal to use Atlanta’s surplus property for affordable housing hits snag at City Hall
The idea sounds simple enough – provide Atlanta’s surplus property for use as construction sites for housing that’s affordable for a schoolteacher. Pending legislation to do just that uncorked a wide-reaching debate Tuesday among members of the Atlanta City Council over the city’s past and present efforts to promote a range of housing prices in the city.
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Mark Pendergrast asks: Is Atlanta on the verge of greatness or mediocrity
In the eyes of Mark Pendergast, Atlanta is a “City on the Verge.”
Pendergast, an Atlanta native and author, has just penned an elaborate and exhaustive tale about the Atlanta BeltLine in his most recent book – “City on the Verge.”
Throughout the book, Pendergast sandwiches in slices of Atlanta’s history – providing a non-judgmental view of the city’s racial tensions and successes as well as its obsession with transportation and its own identity – nationally and internationally.
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Atlanta BeltLine called to explain what it’s doing to help existing residents, shopkeepers
It’s still early, but Atlanta BeltLine officials may have some serious explaining to do regarding the extent to which they have complied with a mandate that the BeltLine improve the quality of life for existing residents impacted by the development.
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Are We There Yet?
By Guest Columnist ANDRE DICKENS, a member of the Atlanta City Council who serves the entire city
Every day, Atlantans share our roads and rails with our 5.7-million-person region. How you get to work, school, and home matters to me – is it stress-free, smooth, safe, and predictable?
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Power of “We” (Part 2)
(Above photo: Reynoldstown Senior is a recently opened 70-unit development located near the southern extension of the Atlanta BeltLIne Eastside Trail, which will bring walkability, opportunities for better health, and new economic vibrancy to Reynoldstown and surrounding neighborhoods.) The Atlanta BeltLine Partnership is elevating solutions to Atlanta’s affordable housing needs via a series of articles […]
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Fiery bridge collapse spotlights three plagues: Homelessness, drug abuse, immobility
Two plagues of metro Atlanta, homelessness and drug abuse, have forced their way into the spotlight by causing a conflagration on another of the region’s plagues – an overburdened section of highway.
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Housing costs: Best of times, worst of times as rent, mortgages outpace wages
No where has it been more apparent that metro Atlanta is in a, “best of times, worst of times,” moment for housing costs than at last week’s meeting of the Metro Atlanta Housing Forum.
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Atlanta’s experts in affordable community redevelopment pushed to sidelines
When the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development came to Atlanta on Nov. 4, 2015 to celebrate its 50th anniversary, it turned to Renee Glover, Egbert Perry and Shirley Franklin to highlight its successes in Atlanta.
Former U.S. HUD Secretary Julian Castro was so impressed by what he saw in Atlanta during the 50th anniversary visit, that he complimented Glover, Perry and Franklin for all their “trail-blazing work” in transforming communities.
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$2 million in down payment assistance for homebuyers available from new program
Shawn Simmons was nothing but exuberant as he showed off the view of Downtown Atlanta’s skyline from the balcony of a home he bought with help from a non-profit housing provider. “You can see the Westin, the 191, and the Georgia Pacific – that’s where I work!,” Simmons said.
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Fulton County leads nation in evictions as corporate landlords race to eject late-payers
Fulton County leads the nation in the rate of home renters who are evicted or put on notice of eviction, according to a new report from the Federal Reserve Bank in Atlanta. A contributing factor is the management practices of corporations and equity funds that bought homes during the Great Recession.
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Atlanta funds $40 million for affordable housing at annual cost of about $2.9 million
Atlanta has approved a $40 million expenditure that aims to preserve the city’s supply of affordable homes by – among other efforts – providing money to lower income residents to repair their decaying homes and continue residing in them.
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Apartment rents above $2.60 a foot highlight effort to promote affordable homes
Rental rates for newly built apartments in Buckhead and Midtown now exceed $2.60 a square foot, and a new report from CBRE says the demand exists to fill the units. Meantime, the report observes gentrification and rising prices are concentrated east of Midtown/Downtown.
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Learning from our past for a brighter transit tomorrow
By Guest Columnist NATHANIEL SMITH, founder and chief equity officer (CEqO), Partnership for Southern Equity
More than 100 people attended an event at Georgia Tech recently to mark the release of a report, “Opportunity Deferred: Race, Transportation and the Future of Metropolitan Atlanta,” that was commissioned by the Partnership for Southern Equity (PSE).
